Far East Command area, were still established. One closed in early February having dealt with seventeen cases in Hong Kong involving fifty-two accused, of whom twelve received the death sentence, six were acquitted, and thirty-four were sentenced to terms of imprison- ment ranging from one to twenty years. The other Court closed on the 1st April, 1948, having tried during 1948 five accused on charges of ill treatment of civilians in the New Territories.
Two fresh Courts, assembled on instructions from the Secretary of State for War, were established in October and December, 1948, with authority to try those Japanese suspects who were traceable for the atrocities committed against Europeans and Asiatics in the notorious Bridge House in Shanghai. Lieutenant - General Kinoshita Eiichi, Sergeant Yoshido Bunzo and Sergeant-Major Yokohata Toshiro of the Japanese Kempeitai were charged before these courts with being concerned in the torture of civilians and internees in Shanghai, and with having caused the death of one internee, while trying to extort confessions from them that they were agents of foreign powers. They were all found guilty and the proceedings of the trial are now under review prior to confirmation of sentence.
The Australian War Crimes Court continued to function throughout the year and by December had heard all cases that were listed to be brought before it.
POLICE
Duties of the Police.
Police duties range from skilled traffic control in the sophis- ticated city centre to operations of a military and naval character in the rugged, almost roadless New Territories and the surround- ing territorial waters. In addition to keeping watch and ward, both civil and semi-military, the Police control immigration, en- force the ban on narcotics and perform the registration and control of vehicles and drivers.
Organisation and Composition of the Police Force.
The basic organisation of the Force follows the standard pattern of Uniformed Branch and C.I.D., including a Special Branch. There are certain additions, such as Emergency Units and Task Forces, required because of the peculiar problems of the Colony, and the speed with which minor incidents are inflamed. The C.I.D. also contain special additions, such as an Anti-Corrup- tion Unit and a unit specialising in commmercial crime.
The authorised establishment of the Police Force was 3,182, the actual strength at the end of 1948 being 2,957. There was
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